Grade 12 World Issues Unit 2: Interdependence and Inequality

Markville S.S. ~ Geography Department L. Percy

Oftentimes, we think of colonialism and its enduring legacies as something “bad that happened in the past.” However, many argue that colonialism continues to this day but is disguised by the workings of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) based in the developed world. These new forms of economic, political, environmental, social and cultural colonialism are referred to as neo-colonialism. Corporate neo-colonialism provides an interesting case study for analyzing how the principles of colonization remain alive and well to this day. Read the case study entitled Wal-Mart or World-Mart? and watch Robert Greenwald’s documentary The High Cost of Low Prices. Complete the organizer by providing examples of how Wal-Mart’s business approach can be compared to early forms of European colonization.

Characteristic of Colonialism

Examples and Impacts of European Colonization Examples and Impacts of Wal-Mart’s Business Practices

Geographic Expansion

Example: European imperialism and expansion. Britain, Spain, Portugal and France wanted to expand around the world and established colonies throughout the “New World.”

Example: Wal-Mart’s mission is to expand geographically. They are located on four continents, have 10,700 stores in 27 countries.

Monopolies

Labour Conditions

Classism and Racism

Culture

COLONIALISM AND NEO-COLONIALISM Wal-Mart or World-Mart?

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices – Film Analysis

Grade 12 World Issues Unit 2: Interdependence and Inequality

Markville S.S. ~ Geography Department L. Percy

Environment

Other

Follow-Up Questions:

1. What bias is evident in the film? How does this affect the Director’s overall message?

2. Identify the tactics used in the film to influence the viewer’s opinion. Are they effective? Why or why not?

3. Why do Wal-Mart employees not fight back?

4. After watching this film, has your impression of Wal-Mart, or other TNCs, changed? Explain.

5. How might you go about finding the “other side of the story” in order to develop your own informed and educated opinion about what you have learned in this case study?

6. Read the article Wal-Mart is Good for the Economy by John Semmens. Make point form notes on the major arguments he presents in his paper. Answer the following analysis questions:

a) Identify Semmens’ thesis.

b) Semmens claims that “from an economic perspective, when all the claims are dispassionately evaluated it looks like Wal-Mart promotes prosperity” (p.10). Respond to this claim.

c) John Semmens presents a laissez-faire approach to global capitalism in which there are winners and there are losers. He claims that the company is “helping consumers get more for their money…providing jobs for willing employees…encouraging trade with less-developed countries…” (p.10). Make the case that the “costs” of Wal-Mart’s low prices are too high OR the “costs” of Wal-Mart’s prices are simply the price of participating in the global economy.